Review: 'Behind The Green Door' understands the power of lunging rhythms. A one-man-band by some estimations - the 'group' has just a single permanent member, Danny "Lee Blackwell" Rajan Billingsley, with the founder, drummer James Traeger, only involved intermittently. And this isn't the only norm defied. Psychedelic garage rock for some, to us it's a kind of hypnotic, swampy, choral thing with shades of rhythm and blues and soul. With plenty of encouragement to chant. In 2023, Night Beats dropped a sixth studio album, Rajan, and then promptly ran back into the same ether that's been obscuring them from many views since 2009. Still, if you caught a glimpse then, or rather an earshot, and took the brave decision to follow, here's where we've wound up - and it sounds awesome.
Review: The Nut Jumpers is a collaboration that brings together Helen Shadow, Ricky Lee Brawn (of The Stargazers and The Big 6), and 'Mr. Dynamite' aka Jake Calypso, and it finds them blend their talents into a diverse yet authentic rock'n'roll experience. With Helen's stellar guitar, Ricky Lee's dynamic drums, and Jake's vocals, harmonica, and bass, their sound spans rockabilly, rock'n'roll, blues boppers, and sixties vibes with effortless cool. They fuse these influences seamlessly, occasionally evoking guitar riffs reminiscent of Link Wray in a way that means The Nut Jumpers deliver a rich musical tapestry that resonates with classic authenticity and a contemporary edge.
Review: A second joining of forces from two celebrated Chicago acts, blending deep, organic rhythms with a minimalistic electronic pulse. With the novel but logical addition of Jason Stein on bass clarinet, the collaboration stretches even further, pulling together the spiritual fluidity of Natural Information Society and the electronic minimalism of Bitchin Bajas. The first single, 'Clock no Clock,' is a deep dive into hypnotic rhythms, with guimbri grooves intertwining seamlessly with electronic bursts, flutes and organs. The other three tracks are equally compelling, the music unfolding like a living organism, constantly shifting but always grounded. Expansive, intricately woven sonic delights.
Review: Rachika Nayar's album 'Fragments' is a collection of sonic miniatures constructed from guitar loops and in the familiar comforts of her own bedroom. First released as a limited edition cassette by RVNG Intl's Commend THERE imprint, it now comes to the main label in full vinyl LP glory, thanks to its sublime working of cyclical, processed, meditative guitar loops into a distinct oeuvre. Nayar is no less than a sonic alchemist, transmuting tactile guitar loops into repeating textures, in a style that seems to continue in the tradition of The Field or Fennesz.
Review: The Necks' 20th studio album, Bleed, is an unbroken 42-minute composition that delves into the rich, unsettling beauty of stillness. Known for their minimalist jazz, the Australian trio takes their distinctive approach even further here, turning silence and decay into instruments as potent as any piano or drum. Each second feels like a meditation on space, where nothing is rushed, and every shift matters. It's a single composition, yet it feels like an endless expanse of possibilities, each sound lingering in the air before dissolving into the next. Pressed on Indie Exclusive Green Vinyl, Bleed is another masterclass from The Necks, a group that has never been content to rest on past achievements. They stretch the limits of jazz in a way that few other artists could, inviting the listener into a world where stillness isn't an absence but a presence. The sounds feel tactile, almost organic, as if they were born from the earth itself, then slowly decayed. Each listen offers something different, some new texture or note that was missed before, making Bleed a record that grows with you, becoming more complex and rewarding with time. It's minimalist, yes, but not in the cold, distant senseithis is music that pulls you in, demands your attention, and rewards it with an almost spiritual sense of calm.
Review: Australian minimalist-jazz trio The Necks return with a powerful exploration of stillness and decay in the for of their new album, Bleed. The record features one lone 42-minute composition in which the band masterfully delves into the beauty of space and subtle transformation. Through their unique blend of minimalist jazz, The Necks continue to craft a distinct sound that shows subtle evolution and makes for another striking chapter to their extensive body of work. Bleed is all about giving over to the meditative journey where every note and pause evokes the profound complexity of time and impermanence, all while showcasing the trio's remarkable ability to evoke plenty of very real emotion despite the minimal nature of their evocative sounds.
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